Stereoscopic camera



Oct. 31, 1944. E, w. sPARLlNG I sTEREoscoPIo CAMERA Filed my 2s, 1'941 2sheets-sheet 1 Och 3l, 1944 E. w. sPARLlNG STEREOSCOPIC CAMERA FiledJuly 23, 1941 2 S'hee'tsr-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 31, 19442,361,661 s'ranaosoorlc CAMERA Elliott W. Sparling, Los Angeles, Calif.,assigner, by mesne assignments, to Milton Schwarzwald,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 23, 1941, Serial No. 403,688

Claims.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of astereoscopic camera embodying certain structural characteristics whichinclude compactness, light weight, a case preferably formed of plasticmaterial and which is' capable oi ornamentation, and, more particularly,in-

cludes a simple, enlcient and economical shutter mechanism arranged foreasy operation and adjustable for providing a plurality of exposureintervals of variable extent so as to be useful under variousconditions.

Another object is to provide a camera which is readily disassembled andassembled for the purpose of changing the parts thereof, for insertingand removing nlm and'which does not require expert attention especiallywhen it is used in color photography for which it is particularlyadapted.

A further object ls to provide in a stereoscopic camera a shuttermechanism including a manually adjustable aperture member which isprovided with a plurality of apertures of different area for each of thelenses and a pair of cooperating shutter members which are manuallyactuated for regulating the duration of the exposures regardless ofwhich of the apertures in the nrst v mentioned member is positioned foruse.

A still further object is to provide a manually operable member formaking time exposures. Other objects may appear as the description of mycamera progresses.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of deviceembodying my improvements, subject, however, to modification within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a camera embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same taken in 'a medial plane;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a sectional elevation on line 4--4 of ments near thecompletion of an exposure making operation; and

Fig. 8 is a face view of the aperture elements of the shutter mechanismshown in a medial position in full lines and in an extreme position indotted lines.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that thecase A is molded into a desired form from plastic or die cast materialsand includes a cover plate Bat the back secured in position on case A asby means of spring fasteners I which may be attached at 2 to theV back Band have shouldered attaching p0rtions 3 which yieldably seat indepressions 4 formed in the ends of case A. 'Ihus the back B isremovably held in position on the case A. f

The front wall 5 of case A supports a pair oi ocularlyspaced lenses 6and 1 held in usual mountlngs 8 and 9, respectively, and which arepreferably provided with outwardly projecting hoods or shields I0 toprotect the lenses from high lights when pictures are being made.Inwardly of the 'front wall 5 I provide a shoulder I'I, against which lsseated and to which is suitably secured a plate I2 which carries ashutter mechanism generally represented at C rearwardly of the lenses 6and 1.

Film spools i3 and I4 are removably mounted on spindles i5 and I6,respectively adjacent the back B so that a nlm D may be supported onsaid spools in such a manner that it may be unwound from one spool andwound on the other spool as the successive areas on the nlm are exposedin the operation of the camera.

The spools IS-and ll are preferably enclosed.

in light proof compartments I1 and Il, respectively, which have arcuatewalls i9 open adjacent the back B, said back serving to close the rearsides of said compartments. Back B is provided with a trio of apertures20, 2| and 22 which are commonly covered by a glass 23 of amber or redcolor as may be desired, so as to render the numerals on the nlm carrierreadily visible through said glass but will prevent sufiicient lightentering through said apertures to aiect the unexposed nlm. Apertures 20and 22 are axially alined with lenses i and 1, respectively, whileaperiire 2l is equally spaced from apertures 26 and The interior o! thecase A is partitioned as at 24 and 25 so as to provide compartments 2land 21, respectively, extending from plate I2 rearwardly to nlm D, so asto connue the light within the compartments 26 and 21 which is ad-Amitted through lenses 6 and 1. The interven ing spaces betweencompartments I1 and 23, |'3 and 21, and 23 and 21, have longitudinalportions 23, 26 and 30, respectively, alined with and over `which film Dis movable. 'I'he compartments 26 and 21 may be circular, or rectangularin cross section, depending u-pon the size and character of theexposable areas on film D. Light is admitted to compartments 26 and21through apertures 3| and 32 formed in closures 33 and 34, respectivelylheld in the forward ends of compartments 26 and 21, as shown in Fig. 2.

Centrally mounted on the upper side of the case A I provide a finder Ehaving usual characteristics includinga. housing 3l and glasses 36 and31 mounted in opposite ends of the housing, the rear glass being clearor ground. The spindle I6 of the rewind spool I4 is extended upwardlythrough the top of case A and is provided with a knob 36 by means ofwhich the nlm D may be advanced, stage by stage for exposingvvsuccessive areas of the nlm when said areas are moved into positionsof registration with the compartments 26 and 21 and the associatedlenses and 1.

Plate 2 of the shutter mounting may be secured in position to the case Aas by means of screws 36 and preferably has a thinner plate 40 suitablysecured to the forward sides thereof on which the shutter elements aredirectly mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The shutter proper includesan apertured member 4| and a closure elementl 42, but, in additionthereto I provide a third member 43 which is independently adjustablerelative to said members^4| and 42 for the purpose of varying thequantity of light admitted to the camera through the lenses 6 and 1.Members 4| and 43 are coaxially mount- 'ed on a shaft 44 which isrotatably held on the front Wall 5 of the case and plates |2 and 40, theouter end of said shaft carrying a manually operable knob 45 and theinner end carrying a head 46 adjacent the inner Aside of plate I2, asshown lin Fig. 2.

For the reason that in a stereoscopic camera separate pictures are takenat ocularly spaced points the shutter elements 4| 42 and 43 havecorresponding portions extended in oppositely from their axes so as tosimultaneously and correspondingly regulate the admission of light tothe film through the pair of lenses 6 and 1. 'I'hus member 4|I hascorresponding arcuate portions 41 and 41 except that the portion 41 isprovided With a shoulder 46 for the purpose hereinafter described. Theportions 41 and 41 of member 4| have corresponding elongated arcuateapertures 49 formed therein which register at intervals with apertures3| and 32 in plate |2 Member 43 has corresponding portions 5|| with aplurality of diametrically spaced apertures of gradually differing size,as at 5|, 52 and 53, which are adjustable relative to and for regulatingthe effective area of the apertures 3| and 32 of plate |2. Member 43 isfixed to pin 44 so that when knob 45 on the front of the case isadjusted,

selectively, to one of the three positions indicated as Cloudy, Fair orBright, the member 43 will be so moved as to register the apertures 53,52 or 5| with the apertures 3| and 32, in the order named.

Member 42 is pivotallymounted on plate |2 on a stud 54 which is axiallyspaced from pin 44 and, as shown, is above said pin, and has similararcuately formed portions 55 uniformly spaced from the axis of stud 54but not diametrically arranged as in the case of the members asomar uand n. said portions ss, as shown in Fig. 4, are adapted to normallyrest over the apertures 3|' and 32 while the apertures 49 in member 4|are out of registration with apertures 3| and 32.

Member 42 is vtensioned by means of a main spring 56 which has one ofits extremities engaged with a fixed lug l1 formed outwardly of plate 40and its other extremity engaged with a lug 53 formed on the right handside of member 42, as shown in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive. The tension ofspring 55 thus tends to move member 42 in a clockwise direction to anextent which is limited by a lug 53 on the central portion of member 42which engages the lug l1, so that normally the portions 55 of saidmember will rest over the apertures 3| and 32 in plate I2.

Members 4| and 42 are resiliently connected by means of a spring 6Iwhich has one extremity attached at 6| to an arm 62 of member 4| and itsother extremity attached at 53 to an arm 64 of member 42, said springbeing intermediately looped to provide suillcient tension when member 42is operated in a counterclockwise direction to effect the operation ofmember 4| in a clockwise direction by reason of the movement of thespring terminal 63 over dead center position relative to its terminal6|.

Member 43 has on one of its terminal portions 50 a lug 54 adaptedtofrictionally engage one of a series of depressions 55 formed in plate 46for holding said member in its preadjusted position. Thus, when member42 is operated the shutter is rapidly4 opened and closed against thetension of spring 56, said spring serving to restore the shutterelements to their normal positions of rest over the apertures 3| and 32in plate I2. l

I provide an actuator 55 slidably mounted in the top 61 of the case Awhich is pivotally connected at 66 with a lever 63 mounted at 10 onplate 2 and having a portion 1| extended through a lug 12 on member 42,whereby when the actuator 55 is depressed the member 42 will swing in acounterclockwise direction and effect thereverse movement of member 4|when the spring terminal 63 moves over dead center position relative toterminal 6|. Thus, the portions 55 of member 42 are moved out ofregistration with apertures 3| and 32 prior to the movement of member 4|in a clockwise direction, thereby momentarily exposing the film Dthrough apertures 3| and 32 and the elongated apertures 43, 49 in member4|, following which action the corresponding extremities of portions 41and 41 again cover the apertures 3| and 32 and exclude light from thelm. Upon release of the actuator 55 the tension of spring 56 movesmember 42 into aperture closing position prior to the ensuing movementof member 4|. 'I'he movement of member 4| is limited by means of xedstop lugs 13 and 14 which are engaged by the portions 41 and 41' ofsaid' member for, respectively, limiting the operating and retractingstrokes of member 4|.

For making time exposure photographs it is .desirable to arrange theshutter so that regardless of the adjustment of the selector 43 themembers 4| and 42 may be stopped when the portions 55 have been movedbeyond the apertures 3| and 32 and whatever apertures of member 43 mayhave been previously selected and while the apertures 43 of member 4|are in registration with the apertures 3| and 32. Hence I provide on theportion 41f of member 4| the shoulder 46 which is adapted to be engagedby a similar shoulder 46' on a slide 15 which has an elongated slot 16movperating member Il through the aperture in the first and second aseA. Saidkoperatmembers. f

3. A stereoscopic camera comprising: acase and ocularly spaced lensesmounted in a wall of said case, and a shutter mechanism disposedrearwardly of said lenses and including first and second memberscoaxially pivoted and having ocularly spaced portions adapted to openand close ocularly spaced apertures in said case ad 0 jacent saidlenses, one of said members having apertures movable into and from aposition of registration with and adapted to be selectively fixedrelative te the apertures in said case, and a second o said membershaving ocularly spaced apertureless portions also movable relative to Athe apertures in said case and also with respect y y i 'f'to theapertures in said first member, and means `waged wasv Gf m "e movdmmtp*posifins enternally of said case for manually operating behind'heilenses Ljthltujggrggjgs de.. said shutter members.

presse@ maiala portions. @alsof-movableerelat e weoopeme withthee-first, member 1 ti thezfiexposure: sensitizedelementpmrried;byth'e2carriera-fi,andral thirdielement mayabgiegelativetdrandadaptedftmreg ateadmission @slight-.l

1i nd apeturel'e'ss `'portiorisf also ltive toadfa'daptedto normallyclose f vdfcase and in said firs'tl-m'emxternallyloii said'. case'operable ovement of@ saidapertured andtoc said-'icaeaiiashuttenfmechanismriisposedrearwx'dlgzoiiisaldilnses 'anddincluding `a.mirgniac axialmanam'elativeismqvasblerifmembersfaehaying t ynpen andclcse'apertures inl aidtlenses', oieaofssaidazpair.

apertures selecscrissi-0f @selarly spaced apertures movable into and ompositicns `ciiregistrationwith, aperturesingsaid case. said acconti'szmemberwleaving correspondingly l" cd apertredfand:iaperturelessfportiQnsfaalso A faithird "table relativeto"andadaptedftofnormally'clcse gnat-e thiissaieriie;fKisHirJpnmeainSaiaPcaseand :usernames-mem 5r. A stereoscopiccar'neraflconripris'in'g;'ajcaseI .shutter members whereby one of saidmembers z 4 asomo:

ber, and means for limiting the movementgof said shutter members.

7. A stereoscopic camera comprising: a case and ocularly spaced lensesmounted in a wall ot said case,'and a shutter mechanism disposedrearwardly of said lenses and including a nrst and a second coaxiallypivoted and relatively movable member having ocularly spaced portionsadapted to open and close apertures in said case adjacent said lenses,both o! said members l having apertures movable into and from positionsof registration with apertures in said case,

and the second member having apertureless porf3 tions also movablerelativev to and adapted to normally close the apertures in said caseand l5 in the rst member, a third member without apertures, and meansfor resiliently connecting the second and'third members whereby one o!said members will be operated to a predeterf mined extent prior to theoperation of the other shutter member.

8. A stereoscopic camera comprising: a case and a pair of ocularlyspaced lenses mounted ln a wall of said case, and a shutter mechanismdisposed rearwardly of said lenses and including a plurality ofrelatively oscillatable members g having ocularly spaced portionsadapted to open and close apertures in said case adjacent said lenses,the first and second of said membershaving apertures movable into andfrom` posi- 36 tions of registration with apertures in said case, andwith each other. and -the third of said members having aperturelessportions also movable relative to and adapted to normally close theapertures in said case and the ilrst and second 35 members, and meansfor resiliently connecting the second and third oi said shutter memberswhereby said third member may be operated to a predetermined extentprior to the operation oi' the apertured members. 40

9. A stereoscopic camera comprising' A case and a pair of ocularlyspaced lenses ounted in a wall of said case, and a shutter mechanismdisposed rearwardly of said lenses andincluding a first and secondmember coaxially pivoted and relatively movable members having ocularlyspaced portions adapted to open and close apertures in said caseadjacent said lenses, said iirst 1,

movable relative to and adapted to alternately open and'close theapertures in said case and the apertures in said first member, and athird fi member centrally pivoted axially oiiset from the iirst andsecond members and having aperture f closing portions on each side o!its pivot, means for resiliently connecting said second and third r willbe operated to a predetermined extent priorI to theoperation oi theiirst shutter member,

and manually operable means associated with u in a wall thereof. meansfor supporting 'a light sensitive element rearwardly or saidienses, and

said lenses and said element andincludinga centrally pivoted nrstaperture member having corresponding portions provided with ocularlyspaced'apertures for registration with said lenses and apertures in saidcase, and a second member coaxially pivoted vwith the iirst member andhaving apertures and aperture closing portions on opposite sides of itspivot movable relative to the apertures in the case and in the nrstmember, a third member centrally pivoted but oi!- set from the iirst andsecond members and having aperture closing portions, means ror manuallyactuating said second and third members so as to rapidly open and closesaid case apertures for admitting light to said nlm, and manuallyoperable means for arresting and limiting the movement or said secondmember, for providing time exposures of said nlm.

l1. A stereoscopic camera comprising: a case having a pair oi' ocularlyspaced lenses mounted in a wall thereof, means for supporting a lightsensitive element rearwardly of said lenses, and a shutter mechanisminterposed between said lenses and said element and including acentrally pivoted first aperture member having corresponding ocularlyspaced portions each provided with a series of apertures oi diilerent.area for registration with saidlenses and apertures in said case, asecond member .coaxial withithe ilrst member centrally pivoted andhaving apertures and aperture closing portions movable relative to saidcase apertures and the selected apertures in the iirst member, a thirdshutter member for closing the apertures in the flrst and secondmembers, means for manually actuating said second and third members soas to rapidly open and close said case apertures lor admitting light tosaid film, means for adjusting the iirst member to position selectedapertures in the ilrst member in registration with the case apertures,and means for effecting the restoration oi said shutter members exceptoi said iirst member to normally closed position upon the release ofsaid actuating means.

l2. A stereoscopic camera comprising: a case having a pair of ocularlyspaced lenses mounted in s, wall thereof, means for supporting a lightsensitive element rearwardlylot said lenses, and a shutter mechanisminterposed between said lenses and said elementand including a firstmember centrally pivoted and having corresponding ocularly spacedportions each provided with a plurality ot apertures of diilerent areafor selective registration with said lenses and apertures in said case,a second member coaxial with the iirst member and having a singleaperture and aperture closing portions movable relative to said caseapertures and lenses, and

also relative to the apertures in the first mem-l ber, and a thirdmember having correspondingly spaced apertureless portions forregistration at times with the nrst and second members, means formanually actuating' said second and third members so as to rapidlyv openand close said case aperturesior admitting'lightto said nlm. means loreiiecting the automatic restoration of saidsecond and third shuttermembers to normallycloaedpoaitionuponthereleaseoisaid actuating means,and a manually operable member lor arresting the movement of said secondshutter member at a selected point, for admitting light to and'iorexposing'said nlm ror a lpredetermined lengthoftime.

i3. A telescopic camera comprising: a case' and a shutter mechanisminterposed between 1I havingapairoiocularlyspacedlensesmounied in a wallthereof, means for supporting a light sensitive element rearwardly ofsaid lenses, and a shutter mechanism interposed between said lenses andsaid element and including an ocularly apertured wiember havingcorresponding portions provided With apertures for registration withsaid lenses and apertures in said case, a second-member having ocularlyspaced aperture closing portions` movable about a central pivot relativeto said case apertures and lenses, means for manually actuating saidmembers so as to rapidly open and close said case apertures foradmitting light to said illm, means for eiecting the automaticrestoration of said shutter members to normally closed position upon therelease of sal actuating means, and a manually operable member forarresting the movement of one of said shutter members at a selectedpoint, for admitting light to and for exposing said llm for apredetermined length of time, said actuating means being operative foreffecting the exposure of the film when said manually operable member isoperated and said shutter being automatically restored to normallyclosed position when said actuating means is released.

asY

14. A stereoscopic camera comprising: a case having ocularly spacedlenses and apertures, and a shutter mechanism rearwardly of the lensesand including a centrally pivoted aperture member having ocularly spacedportions, each provided with a plurality of apertures of different area,means for adjusting said member to register selected apertures thereinwith the apertures in the case, a centrally pivoted aperture closingmember having apertureless portions movable relative to and forregulating the opening and closing of the apertures in the case and inthe aperture member, and means for operating said members.

l5. A stereoscopic camera as characterized in claim 14, including: athird member coaxial with'saidv aperture member and having ocularlyspaced aperturesof substantially greater extent than the apertures inthe aperture member together with aperture closing portions, said thirdmember being operable relative to the other members for varying theexposures effected through the case apertures.

ELLIO'I'I W. SPARLING.

